Final answer:
The early vital sign of postpartum hemorrhage is an increased heart rate to compensate for blood loss, and the late sign is decreased blood pressure as the body is no longer able to maintain adequate perfusion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks about the late and early vital signs of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). The appropriate answer is b) Late: Decreased blood pressure; Early: Increased heart rate. Initially, the body will attempt to compensate for the loss of blood by increasing the heart rate to maintain cardiac output and circulate the remaining blood more efficiently. However, as hemorrhage continues and blood loss progresses, the blood pressure will eventually decrease as a late sign of the severity of the condition. Changes in body temperature can also affect heart rate and contraction strength; hyperthermia increases heart rate while hypothermia slows it down. Furthermore, the cardiovascular system, including stroke volume and cardiac output, will be affected if baroreceptors detect a decrease in blood pressure due to decreased blood volume, signaling the heart to increase its rate and/or strength of contractions.